California Admission Day September 9, 1850 Media Contacts California Admission Day September 9, 1850 In February of 1848, Mexico and the United States signed a treaty which ended the Mexican War and yielded a vast portion of the Southwest, including present day California, to the United States. Several days earlier, January 24, 1848, gold had been discovered on the American River near Sacramento, and the ensuing gold rush hastened California’s admittance to the Union. With the Gold Rush came a huge increase in population and a pressing need for civil government. In 1849, Californians sought statehood and, after heated debate in the U.S. Congress arising out of the slavery issue, California entered the Union as a free, nonslavery state by the Compromise of 1850. California became the 31st state on September 9, 1850. The Golden State’s rich history has since been shaped by people of every ethnic background who traveled here seeking economic, social and educational opportunity, and a life of quality and breathtaking beauty. California situated its first capital in San Jose.

The city did not have facilities ready for a proper capital, and the winter of 1850 - 1851 was unusually wet, causing the dirt roads to become muddy streams. The legislature was unsatisfied with the location, so former General and State Senator Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo donated land in the future city of Vallejo for a new capital; the legislature convened there for one week in 1852 and again for a month in 1853. Again, the facilities available were unsuitable to house a state government, and the capital was soon moved three miles away to the little town of Benicia, inland from the San Francisco Bay. The strait links San Pablo Bay to Grizzly and Suisun Bays deep in the interior. A lovely brick statehouse was built in old American style complete with white cupola. Although strategically sited between the Gold Rush territory of the Sierra Foothills and the financial port of San Francisco, the site was too small for expansion, and so the capital was moved further inland past the Sacramento River Delta to the riverside port of Sacramento in 1854. Sacramento was the site of John Sutter's large farm and his fort.

In 1846, during the midst of the Bear Flag Revolt, the fort was an oasis. A war was being fought between American and Californio soldiers in the southern part of the province for control of California. But at Sutter's Fort, life on the frontier continued with rhythm of the seasons and arrival of new soldiers. The town was founded by John Sutter, Jr. while the elder Sutter was away, at the river's edge and downhill from the fort. Sutter Sr. was indignant since this place, shaded by water-needy Cottonwood trees, was often under water. Indeed, every hundred years or so, the whole Great Valley from Chico to Bakersfield, was one great freshwater sea. However, lots were already sold, so there the town of Sacramento stayed. At the end of the century, the streets were raised a full story, so buildings in Old Town Sacramento are now entered through what were once doors to the balconies shading the sidewalks below. The Greek word "Eureka" has appeared on the state seal since 1849, when California sought statehood, and means " I Have Found It ." The words were probably intended to refer to the discovery of gold in California.

Archimedes, the famed Greek mathematician, is said to have exclaimed "Eureka" when, after long study, he discovered a method of determining the purity of gold. In 1957, attempts were made to establish "In God We Trust" as the state motto, but "Eureka" was made the official state motto in 1963. Related Pages Address: 1416 9th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 | P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296 Public Information Inquiries: (916) 653-6995 | (800) 777-0369 What year did California become a state? | Reference.com What year did California become a state? A: Quick Answer California officially became a state of the United States of America on September 9th, 1850. It was the 31st state to be added to this country. The name California is derived from a fictional paradise said to be inhabited by the Black Amazons. Their ruler was Queen Calafia. What are some key facts about California?

| Reference.com What are some key facts about California? A: Quick Answer California is the third-largest state in the union and second-largest state in the contiguous United States, at 158,706 square miles. Additionally, the state has the highest population in the country, at approximately 37.7 million residents. Full Answer California became the 31st state of the union on Sept. 9, 1850 and was the site of the gold rush of 1848. Due to influx of prospectors looking to get rich during that time, the state nickname is "The Golden State." Spain originally controlled California, where the country established its first mission in 1759 in San Diego. In 1847, California became a U.S. Territory. Although the current capital of California is Sacramento, San Jose, Vallejo and Benecia have all held the title at some point since statehood. The largest cities in California include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco. Ten national parks, 18 national forests and 278 state parks and beaches are among the state's riches.

Well-known landmarks and tourist attractions in the state include the Golden Gate Bridge, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, San Francisco's Chinatown and the San Diego Zoo. The state also has the tallest trees in the world, the California redwoods. Additionally the lowest point in the nation lies in Death Valley, while the tallest point in the lower 48 states lies at Mt. Whitney, both in California. California is the 31st State Admitted to the Union | World History Project Sep 9 1850 California is the 31st State Admitted to the Union It was August 1848 before the United States Senate ratified the treaty ending the Mexican War and recognizing the transfer of California to American hands. Local Army commanders, "Forty-eighters," Hispanic rancheros--all waited anxiously for details of the form of territorial government California would enjoy. When no news arrived, local residents took matters in their own hands, with mass meetings as early as December 1848 debating California's political future. As tens of thousands of "Forty-Niners" joined the rush, the need became more pressing.

Congress and the President did nothing, and in September 1849, forty-eight delegates met in Monterey to draw up a state constitution. The document was closely modeled on the constitutions of Iowa and New York, home states of many members of the convention, and it made California a "free" state from which slavery would be excluded. The frame of government was ratified by popular vote on November 13, and state officials were chosen the same day. While Eastern Congressmen and Representatives argued over whether and how to admit this new free state, Californians got on with the business of finding gold and making money. In the mining camps, it was the miners themselves who were responsible for local affairs. In only a few years, they worked out rules governing the discovery and exploitation of mineral resources that were later incorporated into state and federal statutes. As for criminal law, miners and local townspeople were equally efficient in dealing out their own form of justice. As towns sprang up near the camps, newly appointed officials were appointed to impose order. Back East, established forces of morality and order like the major Protestant churches were concerned about the society to which the states of the Atlantic seaboard and Midwest were sending their young men and women.

Sensing that California would be in desperate need of moral guidance, "home mission" boards of these churches sent clergyman west to minister to the souls of miners, saloonkeepers, peddlers, and merchants in California's booming towns and cities and isolated mining camps. Finally, on September 9, 1850, President Fillmore signed the bill that gave California statehood. However, state government did not automatically bring law and order to California. In San Francisco, local citizens became so impatient with the inability or unwillingness of local officers to enforce the law that they formed a "Vigilance Committee" in 1851. By the time that the committee disbanded at the end of September, they had hanged four men, handed fifteen over to the police for trials, and whipped or deported twenty-nine more. The San Francisco experience inspired vigilance committees in other towns and mining camps. The apparent reforms brought by the 1851 San Francisco vigilantes were short-lived, and when the city's marshals and one of its newspaper editors were shot down in 1856, the second San Francisco Vigilance Committee was formed, this time even seizing arms from the local state militia.

California | history - geography - state, United States | Britannica.com state, United States (2010) 37,253,956; (2016 est.) 39,250,017 Total area (sq mi) "Eureka (I Have Found It)" State bird Seats in U.S. House of Representatives 53 of (435) Pacific (GMT − 8 hours) 1Excluding military abroad. California, constituent state of the United States of America. It was admitted as the 31st state of the union on September 9, 1850, and by the early 1960s it was the most populous U.S. state. No version of the origin of California’s name has been fully accepted, but there is wide support for the contention that it derived from an early 16th-century Spanish novel, Las sergas de Esplandián (“The Adventures of Esplandián”), that described a paradisiacal island full of gold and precious stones called California. The influence of the Spanish settlers of the 18th and 19th centuries is evident in California’s architecture and place-names.

The capital is Sacramento . California. Mountainous coastline of the eastern Pacific Ocean, Big Sur, California. Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images California is bounded by the U.S. state of Oregon to the north, by the states of Nevada and Arizona to the east, by the Mexican state of Baja California to the south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. From the rainy northern coast to the parched Colorado Desert in the south, and from the Mediterranean-like central and southern littoral to the volcanic plateau of the far northeast, California is a land of stunning physical contrasts. Both the highest and lowest points in the 48 conterminous states are in the state of California— Mount Whitney and Death Valley , respectively. The former is the culminating summit of the Sierra Nevada , one of the major mountain ranges of North America . The diverse landscapes of California from Mount Whitney to Death Valley. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Sand dunes at Death Valley National Monument, California. © Corbis The fluid nature of the state’s social, economic, and political life—shaped so largely by the influx of people from other states and countries—has for centuries made California a laboratory for testing new modes of living.

California’s population, concentrated mostly along the coast, is the most urban in the United States, with more than three-fourths of the state’s people living in the Los Angeles , San Francisco , and San Diego metropolitan areas. Despite its urbanization and the loss of land to industry, California still leads the country in agricultural production. About one-half of the state’s land is federally owned. National parks located throughout the state are devoted to the preservation of nature and natural resources. Area 163,695 square miles (423,967 square km). Population (2010) 37,253,956; (2016 est.) 39,250,017. Downtown Los Angeles cityscape. California’s eclectic population is demonstrated through interviews with extreme mountain biker … Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Land A section of the Los Angeles River affected by drought. Joshua Rainey—iStock Editorial/Thinkstock The largest lake of the Sierra Nevada is Lake Tahoe , astride the California-Nevada border at an elevation of 6,229 feet (1,899 metres).

A mountain-ringed alpine lake about 193 square miles (500 square km) in area, it has among the world’s greatest average depth and a maximum depth of about 1,640 feet (500 metres). Elsewhere in the Sierra lie hundreds of smaller lakes, some above the timberline in regions of tumbled granite and smooth-walled canyons. West of the Sierra Nevada is Clear Lake; at 67 square miles (174 square km), it is the largest natural lake wholly within the state. On the eastern flank of the Sierra are Mono Lake and Owens Lake, both long endangered by agricultural development. Tufa towers of Mono Lake, east-central California, U.S. © Corel Climate California’s climate is marked by two seasons—a wet and a dry. Except on the coast, the dryness of the air and the consequent rapidity of evaporation greatly lessen the severity of summer heat. Precipitation ranges from more than 170 inches (4,300 mm) in the northwest to traces in the southeastern desert, but moderate temperatures and rainfall prevail along the coast. The climate also changes rapidly with elevational extremes.

Death Valley , with its lowest point at 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level, is the hottest and driest place in North America. Its temperatures easily soar into the 100s F (about 48 °C) in the summer, and average annual rainfall is only about 2 inches (50 mm). Summer temperatures in the low-lying Colorado Desert can reach as high as about 130 °F (54 °C), and annual precipitation there averages only 3 to 4 inches (75 to 100 mm). In the higher eastern deserts of California, summer temperatures are more moderate. Winter temperatures in the Sierra Nevada can drop to near freezing. The average annual temperature is in the mid-60s F (about 18 °C) in Los Angeles, with an annual precipitation average of about 14 inches (350 mm). In San Francisco temperatures average in the mid-50s F (about 14 °C), with annual precipitation of about 20 inches (508 mm). On the coast, temperatures seldom exceed 90 °F (32 °C) or drop to freezing, and humidity is low.

Amargosa Range surmounting Death Valley, eastern California. © J. L. Levy/Shutterstock.com Plant and animal life California is the most biologically diverse state in the United States, with more than 40,000 plant and animal species, some of which are endangered or threatened. Nearly one-fourth of all plant types found in North America occur naturally within the borders of the state. The state is particularly known for its redwood trees . Before European settlement the redwoods covered an estimated 2,000,000 acres (800,000 hectares) of California. Many redwood forests have been destroyed or substantially altered by logging operations; however, about 200,000 acres (80,000 hectares) of redwoods are protected in state and national parks. Other highly recognizable forms of plant life, emblematic of different parts of the state, are the bristlecone pine , the palm, the creosote bush, and the Monterey cypress.

Yet, some of California’s most characteristic landscapes, particularly the coastal region of the central and southern portions of the state, are dominated by plants introduced from other countries, most notably Bermuda grass from southern Africa, the tree of heaven from China , the thistle from Central Asia , and the giant reed from southern Europe. Undergrowth in Muir Woods National Monument, California. U.S. National Park Service Monterey cypresses (Cupressus macrocarpa) along the Pacific coast at Pebble Beach, … The Jon B. Lovelace Collection of California Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith’s America Project, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (LC-DIG-highsm-22837) Animal life in California is as varied as the geography; about 400 species of mammals and some 600 species of birds have been identified. Many are extinct or in danger of extirpation. The California grizzly bear is extinct, for instance, and the bighorn sheep is found mostly in remote desert mountains. Some species have been reintroduced or given protected status, including the California condor, whose population has slowly regrown with the help of zoo hatching programs and wilderness refuges.

Wildcats and pumas (cougars) characteristically prowl remote mountain areas, though they are increasingly coming into contact with humans as urban and suburban development expands. The more common deer, bobcats, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, and black bears are found in various habitats. In drier areas and deserts there are squirrels, jackrabbits, and chipmunks. Desert tortoises, horned toads, and rattlesnakes are abundant in desert climates. Among common birds are California jays and thrashers, juncos, mountain bluebirds, and hermit thrushes. Bass, perch, rockfish, and tuna are found in the Pacific Ocean off California’s coast, as are many species of marine mammals. People Population composition The California Indians , the original inhabitants of the state, now constitute a small but rapidly growing percentage of the population. Spanish missionaries converted and subjugated them as part of the construction of the California mission chain. When the missions were secularized in 1833, some 30,000 Mission Indians were farming under the direction of priests and soldiers at 21 different missions.

Disease decimated the California Indian population for decades after the Spaniards’ arrival. During the remainder of the 19th century, thousands of indigenous Californians were enslaved through the application of antivagrancy laws; similar numbers were killed during state-sponsored raids that were touted as “pacification” efforts. By 1880 only about 15,000 California Indians remained, a reduction of about nine-tenths of their pre-Columbian population. During the 20th century the population began to recuperate, and Native American communities engaged in a variety of advocacy and cultural-renewal activities. During World War II the state’s burgeoning military-industrial complex drew people from across the country, and following the war California became a destination point for U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs relocation programs. These factors caused many Native Americans from other parts of the United States to relocate to the state. By the early 21st century, California had the largest Native American population in the United States, the vast majority of which resided in urban areas. California’s first settlers were mostly Midwestern farmers of European descent .

The Gold Rush of 1849 changed the composition of the population as hundreds of thousands of fortune seekers from all over the United States and other countries entered the state. In 1850 more than half of Californians were in their 20s and were typically male and single. Only a few hundred Chinese lived in the state in 1850, but two years later one resident out of 10 was Chinese; most performed menial labour. Irish labourers arrived during the railroad construction boom in the 1860s. The Irish, French, and Italians tended to settle in San Francisco. As Los Angeles began to grow at the end of the 19th century, it attracted large numbers of Mexicans, Russians, and Japanese but primarily another influx of Midwesterners. By the beginning of the 20th century, ethnic discrimination had grown strong, especially against Asians . An alien land law intended to discourage ownership of land by Asians was not ruled unconstitutional until 1952. At one time the testimony of Chinese in courts was declared void.

Separate schools for Asians were authorized by law until 1936, and it was not until 1943 that the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed by Congress. As discrimination against the Chinese flared, Japanese felt encouraged to immigrate, and in 1900 more than 12,000 entered California. Prospering as farmers, they came to control more than one-tenth of the farmland by 1920, while constituting only 2 percent of the population. Los Angeles became the centre of the country’s Japanese community , while San Francisco’s Chinatown became the country’s largest Chinese settlement. Discrimination against the Japanese smoldered until World War II, when about 93,000 Japanese Americans lived in the state. Some three-fifths of them were American-born citizens known as Nisei (second-born); most of the others were Issei , older adults who had immigrated before Congress halted their influx in 1924. Never eligible for naturalization, the Issei were classed as enemy aliens during World War II.

In early 1942 almost all of California’s Japanese Americans, both Nisei and Issei, were moved to isolated internment camps east of the Sierra Nevada, and they were held under guard until 1945. At the end of the war, they found that their property had been sold for taxes or storage fees and their enclaves overrun. After years of litigation some 26,000 claimants were reimbursed for their losses at about one-third of the claimed valuation. About 85 percent of the Japanese Americans had been farmers, but with their land gone they became gardeners or went into other professions. In 1988 the U.S. Congress voted grants of $20,000 each to all Japanese Americans who had been interned. Manzanar Relocation Centre (an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II), near … Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (neg. no.

LC-DIG-ppprs-00229) Asian immigration to California surged in the 1970s and ’80s, with Filipinos, Vietnamese, Miao (Hmong), Cambodians, Laotians, and South Koreans among the newcomers. By 1987 the Asian population of California was estimated at about 6 percent of the total; that number had grown to more than one-tenth by the early 2000s. Immigration has led to the formation of large Asian enclaves, especially in the major metropolitan areas. Los Angeles, for example, now has a larger Korean population than any other city outside Korea. Lanterns hanging in Chinatown, San Francisco. trekandshoot—iStock/Thinkstock The many Californians with Spanish surnames largely reflect the 20th-century immigration from Mexico—to escape that country’s revolution (1910–17) or to seek economic opportunity in the United States. By the early 21st century, about one-third of the state’s population was Mexican or Mexican American (nearly one-half of the country’s Mexican Americans live in California).

Millions of Mexicans entered southern California illegally in the years prior to 1987. In that year the U.S. Congress granted amnesty to those who could establish specific conditions of prior residence. By 1988 about 1.7 million Hispanics had received temporary resident status under amnesty provisions, an estimated one-half of them within California. Since then, millions of Mexicans, as well as smaller numbers of Central and South Americans, have migrated to California. There are also smaller Puerto Rican and Cuban communities. Latinos as a whole make up more than one-third of the state’s population, and some areas are primarily Spanish-speaking. Few people of African descent settled in California until World War II. Between 1940 and 1980 the African American population in metropolitan San Francisco rose from about 5,000 to about 86,000 and in metropolitan Los Angeles from 64,000 to more than 900,000, marking one of the largest gains of any U.S. state’s African American population. In the early 21st century, the African American population accounted for about one-fifteenth of California’s population.

The San Francisco Bay Area became a haven for gay men and lesbians in the years following World War II and was among the first U.S. cities to issue antidiscrimination ordinances on the basis of sexual preference. Los Angeles and other California cities also have significant gay and lesbian populations that are politically and culturally active. California’s Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriage in May 2008, though opponents vowed to battle the ruling with a constitutional amendment . About one-third of Californians belong to churches, a proportion far below the national average. However, California has the highest concentration of megachurches (generally nondenominational churches with 2,000 or more members) of any state. Roman Catholicism is dominant in San Francisco, and fundamentalist Protestant groups are common in those parts of southern California inhabited by migrants from the South and Southwest . The Jewish community makes up about 3 percent of the state’s population. Los Angeles and, to a somewhat lesser extent, San Francisco have long attracted the development of unconventional religious movements. Aimee Semple McPherson , whose Angelus Temple in Los Angeles boasted near 30,000 members, is one of the best remembered of the evangelists.

Faith healers still are popular. Scientology has thrived in southern California and has boasted many celebrity adherents. Zen Buddhism enjoyed popularity in San Francisco during the 1950s, with English-born Alan Watts serving as its interpreter to a following that included the “Beat Generation.” Interest in Buddhism and other Eastern religions was rekindled in California in the 1990s as a result of both an influx in the Asian population and the search among baby boomers for nontraditional belief systems. Settlement patterns and demographic trends Native-born Americans were the dominant factor in California’s phenomenal growth in the mid-20th century. Many workers who flooded the defense industries during World War II remained as residents, along with hundreds of thousands who first visited the state as military personnel. California’s population tripled from 1950 to 2000. Rapid growth, mainly from immigration, continued into the 21st century. About three-fifths of the population is concentrated south of the Tehachapi Mountains in about one-fourth of the state’s area, with the greatest concentration in the small coastal region. The wide-scale transformation of California’s ethnic mix has led to profound demographic changes.

In 2001 California became the first state in the United States in which Hispanics were the majority. It was also one of the few states to experience a significant out-migration of “whites” moving to less ethnically diverse states, notably Utah , Nevada, Oregon , and Washington . Economic crises, overcrowding, and pollution in California’s major cities were some of the reasons for their movement eastward and northward. Page 1 of 3 California - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) Virtually every kind of climate, landform, vegetation, and animal life that can be found anywhere else in the United States can be found in the state of California, the Golden State. The third largest state stretches for more than 800 miles (1,290 kilometers) along the Pacific coast. It meets the sea with sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. Inland, past wooded coastal mountains, lie verdant valleys and arid deserts. Along the eastern border the towering Sierra Nevada thrusts jagged peaks far beyond the timberline. Among the mountains are the awesome forest habitats of some of the largest, the tallest, and the oldest living things on Earth.

Article Contributors California - American Driving Academy California Home > States > California Learn to drive from American Driving Academy Inc., and receive reduced insurance rates! American Driving Academy Inc. is the best choice when looking to be taught by the most comprehensive driving school in the United States. Program Descriptions and Costs: We are proud of our high quality programs. We now offer two different home study programs. The programs available are state specific. In one program the student may complete the 30 hour classroom work as a home study course and complete 12 hours of behind the wheel training in one of our dual controlled cars with one of our friendly, patient, state certified instructors. 6 of the 12 hours the student drives and 6 hours the student observes. Students may also take the state written permit test and the actual driving exam in our program before their 16th birthday. Cost $295 - $345 In our second program we offer a complete home study course for both the 30 hours of classroom and the behind the wheel training. Cost $135 With both programs students are also welcome, but not required, to attend any class at any school most convenient for them! Benefits: Because American Driving Academy, Inc.

teaches the most comprehensive and highest quality classes, our program qualifies students for hundreds of dollars in insurance reductions with most insurance companies. The amount can be as much as 20% per year in savings for students who have successfully completed our course. Call for an enrollment application today! 1-800-604-6741 14 hour daily technical and student support - Toll Free, 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Mountain Std. Time! Program completion certificate for your insurance company! California's most comprehensive parent-taught Driver Education and Training Program. Approved by most states. Check with your state drivers license agency. California Facts The state motto of California is "I have found it" The California state song is "I love you, California" The state flower of California is the Golden Poppy The California State nickname is "The Golden State" The capital of California is Sacramento. California travel and tourism information is available by calling 1-(800) TO-CALIF "Tour California" Web site: California tax information is available online at: The Web site of the California DMV (the state licensing authority) is California History: California became a state on Sept.

9, 1850. It was the 31st state to join the union. Ceded by Mexico by the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, concluded Feb. 2, 1848, and proclaimed July 4, 1848. From then until statehood, California had a military government until Dec. 20, 1849, and then a local civil government. It never had a territorial form of government. Cart History of California As is the case with the entire western United States, the first inhabitants of California were immigrants, travelers from Asia, following big game herds across the Bering Strait into Alaska, down through Canada and into the United States (and even all the way to the tip of South America). These migrations took place over thousands of years beginning at the end of the last ice age, perhaps 13,000 - 15,000 years ago. Archaeological evidence from this period is scarce.

Santa Rosa Island, one of the Channel Islands of California off the Southern California coast, is the site of Arlington Springs Man , human bones dated to 10,000-13,000 B.C., among the oldest remains discovered in the Americas. Due to various climates existing within the geographic area of California, the indigenous peoples evolved differently in different areas of the state. These different cultural evolutions are roughly split into the following categories, based on their geographical location primarily: The northwestern culture area extends from northern California to Alaska, and is distinguished by far greater rainfall than other areas of the state. Included among these cultures are the Yurok, Hupa, and Shasta peoples. The northeastern cultural area included the Achumawi and Atsugewi peoples. The central culture area covers about half the present territory of California and is marked by a mild climate. This area comprised about two-thirds of all the native people living in the state at the time of the European invasion. Included among these cultures are the Yokuts, Miwok, Maidu, and Pomo peoples. The Southern culture area was marked by abundant sea life, and contained the most populous tribes in the state.

Among these tribes are the Kumeyaay, Cahuilla, Tongva, and Chumash Indians. The Great Basin culture area includes most of California's eastern border with Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, and includes the Tubatulabal, and the Owens Valley Paiute tribes. The Colorado River culture was part of the western periphery of the greater Southwest culture area and includes the Ouechan (Yuma), Halchidhoma, and Mohave tribes. It is estimated that at the time of the European invasion of the 1700's there were perhaps 300,000 Native Americans, formed in hundreds of small groups, speaking more than 100 different languages, living in California.

California becomes the 31st state in record time - Sep 09, 1850 - HISTORY.com California becomes the 31st state in record time Share this: California becomes the 31st state in record time Author California becomes the 31st state in record time URL Publisher A+E Networks Though it had only been a part of the United States for less than two years, California becomes the 31st state in the union (without ever even having been a territory) on this day in 1850. Mexico had reluctantly ceded California and much of its northern territory to the United States in the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,. When the Mexican diplomats signed the treaty, they pictured California as a region of sleepy mission towns with a tiny population of about 7,300-not a devastating loss to the Mexican empire. Their regret might have been much sharper had they known that gold had been discovered at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California, nine days before they signed the peace treaty.

Suddenly, the greatest gold rush in history was on, and “forty-niners” began flooding into California chasing after the fist-sized gold nuggets rumored to be strewn about the ground just waiting to be picked up. California’s population and wealth skyrocketed. Most newly acquired regions of the U.S. went through long periods as territories before they had the 60,000 inhabitants needed to achieve statehood, and prior to the Gold Rush, emigration to California had been so slow that it would have been decades before the population reached that number. But with gold fever reaching epidemic proportions around the world, more than 60,000 people from around the globe came to California in 1849 alone. Faced with such rapid growth, as well as a thorny congressional debate over the question of slavery in the new territories, Congress allowed California to jump straight to full statehood without ever passing through the formal territorial stage. After a rancorous debate between the slave-state and free-soil advocates, Congress finally accepted California as a free-labor state under the Compromise of 1850, beginning the state’s long reign as the most powerful economic and political force in the far West.

Related Videos ViBaDirect | California The Knight Rider Building, SJ The Old Santa Cruz Train Track The Santa Cruz Mystery Spot Lily Pond in Egyptian Museum Hiking Through Muir Woods Welcome to All About California • The 31st State in the Union Sept 9, 1850 You don't have to go half-way around the globe for one of the world's premier destinations. It's as close as San Francisco - Discover the wonders of the Golden State-glorious beaches and mountains, lush wine country, dramatic deserts, dynamic cities and fun places to play. You are welcome to check out the links in this page as our favourite places for family funs and adventures. California was originally know as the Bear State , is now the Golden State . The grizzly bear on California's state flag is a tribute to Monarch. In 1899, William Randolph Hearst paid a reporter Allen Kelly to capture the last wild California grizzly bear. Monarch was a star attraction at the Golden Gate Park until his death in 1911. William Todd was the original flag designer. But the orginal Bear Flag had nothing to do with Monarch.

In 1846, a group of Americans who'd settled in California invaded the Mexican outpost at Sonoma and captured the retired general Mariano Vallejo . They raised the first Bear Flag and called the land (part of Mexico) the California Republic. After 26 days, U.S. Army Major John C. Fremont replaced the Bear Flag with the U.S. flag, which take us back to the begining of this post and the Mexican-American War. The 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War. The U.S. paid Mexico $15,000,000 for war damages. In return, Mexico ceded half of its territory, including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and parts of Colorado, Nevada and Utah. Adventure Bicycle Club. Founded in 2012 in the San Francisco Bay Area to promote cycling for fun, adventure and physical fitness. ABC offer fun activities and recreational riding for all ages of riders. Join our club for ride schedule, members' sections, weekly meeting, meet other bicyclists, bike safety training, and let ride together!

Where to See Fall Foliage in California • California best known for its warm weather and beautiful beaches, California is also know for its changing fall foliage. Whether traveling by car, train, mountain bike or hiking, the Golden State offers a wealth of areas that showcase the striking autumnal displays from September to December. Tthe Inland Empire Region’s Big Bear Lake mountain region is peppered with changing oaks, aspens and cottonwoods. The ground is covered with rust-colored ferns and the Big Bear Village is brilliant with vibrant red maples. Popular spots for viewing include Mill Creek Road, Pine Knot Trail and Castle Rock Trail... read more. • Plumas County's Fall Foliage. Rugged canyons, crystal clear lakes, fresh pine forests. Located in northeastern California, where the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges meet, Plumas County has spectacular fall colors that dazzle year after year. Masses of burnished golds and sunlit yellows flecked with brilliant reds and rich magentas, set against the majestic greens of the mountains and the royal blue sky qualify Plumas County as a must-see destination for nature lovers and camera buffs during late October.

It's the Spring of Love — California Wild Flowers Blue-Eyed Grass Owl Clover Wildflower Summer Family Fun • Camping and Adventure in Northern California • Great Park for Spring Break Camping Trip — Instead of spending the kids sping break catching up on their report writing assigments, my wife and I decided to take the kids on a short camping trip to one of the great park of the Bay Area. Del Valle Regional Park is like a lakeside resort only 10 miles south of Livermore, surrounded by approximately 5,000 acres of beautiful land for hiking, horseback riding, and nature study. Del Valle also is the eastern gateway to the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, 28 miles of scenic back country trail. Del Valle offers two swimming beaches with lifeguards on duty during summer. • BayCitizen.org — The Bay Citizen a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization eporting on civic and community issues in the San Francisco Bay Area. Featured Topics: News - Cultures - Community - Arts & Life...

• Inside Bay Area — Get the most out of life in the Bay Area - find local events including art, music, theater, and restaurants with InsideBayArea.com • BestCaliforniaBeach.com — Best Califronia Beach is here to help. You'll find detailed information about California beaches and articles to help you find the best California beach for your kind of fun. Great Places for Family Fun and Adventure • Whitewater Rafting on American River — The American River is the most popular whitewater rafting destination in California. We did a half a day trip whitewater rafting on the South Fork of the American River with a small group of 13 this weekend. We had the best time on the South Fork American River with Tributary Whitewater Tours . It was the first time for all of us. The guides were just fabulous in taking good care of us, sharing their knowledge of the river environment and just having fun. Our lovely guide Margaret, was awesome! She made us feel very comfortable and seemed to know exactly what she was doing. Definitely a fun guide to go with! Tributary recommend you call or email to confirm availability before booking online.

It is best to plan your trip well in advance (especially for weekends and holidays) and some rivers may be booked months in advance. However, if you wish to schedule a trip on short notice, call them as they can often times accept late reservations as space allows. For your convenience there is RedHawk Casino 15 minutes away from the river if you like to spend the night. • The World Tallest Trees — In San Francisco's southwest corner , the world's tallest trees preside over a wild and stuningly beautiful landscape. • The Largest Natural Freshwater Lake — In California, 100 miles northeast of San Francisco, Clear Lake boasts 43,000 acres of vacation fun and the best bass fishing in the West. • Monterey Bay Aquarium — One of the largest and most respected aquariums in the world. From Underwater Explorers to Science under Sail. From Acorn Barnacles to Zebra Sharks, make your reversvations today and let your immagination soar.

The Most Beautiful Places in California • Yosemite National Park — One of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. • Muir Woods National Monument — Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is a park which caters to pedestrians, as parking of vehicles is only allowed at the very entrance. Hiking trails vary in the level of difficulty and distance. The monument has a number of paved walking trails where visitors can get a close look at the magnificent giants. Picnicking, camping and pets are not permitted. • Cali Fall Colors from September through November — Take the time to enjoy what little bit of the fall season that California has to offer. Take a weekend away from everyday routine. Relax, enjoy & see the seasonal beauty. Highways winding along a river gorge, laced with trees who's leaves are changing to brilliant golden colors with plenty of places for picnics & hiking .

Get your mug of hot coffee or hot tea ready, some nice music, a companion, your camera, and you're all set to hit the road and take a scenic drive. • A Drive through Lassen Volcanic National Park — From San Jose take HWY I5 North to Red Bluff , take 36 East (Antelope Blvd), pass St Marys Ave (make a left) 36 will change North East (to Paynes Creek) to Lassen National Forest . Take 89 North (Lassen Peak HWY) and drive all the way through Lassen National Volcanic Park . From here take the 44 East (to Shingletown ) and then the I-5 (to Redding) to complete the loop. A minimum 6 hours drive from San Jose, CA. From I-5 take HWY 44 West to Redding , bear right on Liberty St, bear left on Shasta St, turn left on Pine Street, the turn right on Eureka Way (turn into) HWY 299 West (going to Whiskey Town), continous on 299 to Douglas City.

Make a right turn on Main Street (299 North) to Weaverville . Any chance you see to take a marked hiking trail off the highway is a guaranteed way to immerse yourself in color. Past Weaverville you can continue West to the coast, or head north on HWY 3 up the Trinity Heritage Scenic Byway . It's another 3 hours drive from Redding. The Most Beautiful Beaches in California • Seacliff State Beach — The end of this wooden 500-foot-long pier connects to the old cement ship Palo Alto, a bad idea turned good. The ship was designed for the U.S. Navy in World War I but was not completed until the war was over. She sat at her dock in Oakland until 1929 when she made her only voyage -- to her present spot. The 435-foot-long ship was filled with water, a pier was built from the beach to the ship, and the ship was turned into a floating attraction (although she didn't really float). A cafe was constructed above deck, the main deck was turned into a dance floor, a heated swimming pool was added and carnival booths lined the back of the ship.

Within several years, the company that owned the ship went bankrupt. Later, winter storms damaged the already paralyzed craft. Economically it was a bad idea for the company, but it has turned out to be a bonanza for anglers. The beach is lovely, You can avoid the $10 parking fee by parking in the upper lot and walking down a bunch of stairs. The real attraction for me here is the ship though. It is such a fascinating story to me. The visitor's center on the beach has a ton of cool info for you as well. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in history, ships, and gorgeous beaches. There are picnic areas where you can BBQ. Every area of tables seems to have their own bbq pit, but they are pretty gross so I recommend lining the grill w/foil. The walk to the water is very short and the bathrooms are nearby. There are showers for rinsing off too! The bathrooms were fairly clean. • San Gregorio State Beach — San Gregorio State Beach is a stunning beach in a valley about 10 miles south of Half Moon Bay. It has a big parking lot and a popular picnic area on the bluff above the beach, park facilities include restrooms and picnic tables.

Dogs are not permitted on the beach. San Gregorio Creek flows down to the beach and pools before creating an exit route through the sand. At times this lagoon will fill most of the cove. Birds can be spotted at this location year-round. • Pebble Beach — Pebble Beach is a long string of connected coves in Crescent City on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey County. The beach has numerous parking areas all along South and North Pebble Beach Drive between Battery Point and Point St. George. Starting at the south end, there is a fishing access and picnic area parking lot across from Brother Jonathan Memorial Park, and about 500 feet north of that is a road that drops down to parking on a rocky point called Preston Island. • McClures Beach — Located in Point Reyes National Seashore. A rugged trail descends moderately steeply down a ravine to the ocean. McClures Beach is contained within a beautiful cove backed by rocky cliffs, but watch out for tidal fluctuations and dangerous surf. This hike's trailhead is located at the end of the Pierce Point Road, below Pierce Point Ranch, a 40-minute drive from the Bear Valley Visitor Center.

• Sand Dollar Beach — Is one of the most beautiful and scenic beaches on the spectacular Big SurCoast. Great surfing, exploring and fishing are here within walking distance of Plaskett Creek campground, located directly across Hwy. 1. Beautiful jade stones and other rounded sea rocks can also be found along the back of the beach. • Salt Creek Beach — Is a beach park located in Dana Point, in the county of Orange. It's one of the best beaches in State of California, also a popular surfing location. Convenience structures include restroom facilities with outside showers and a paved parking area. A beach concession building, open in the spring and summer, offers quick food and beach supplies. • Moonstone Beach — Moonstone Beach is one of many uncrowded beaches on the Cambria Coastline. Enjoy strolling the one-mile boardwalk that meanders all along the splendid coast between Cambria’s north end to Leffingwell Landing and back. Feel the sand between your toes at this natural wonder. In fact, if you look closely at the small rocks along the beach, you’ll see some aren’t rocks at all. Instead, they’re colorful, shiny moonstones for which the beach was named.

• Carmel City Beach — Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small beach city on California's Monterey Peninsula. It is known for the museums and library of the historic Carmel Mission, and the fairytale cottages and galleries of the village-like center. The Scenic Bluff Path runs from surf spot Carmel Beach to bird-rich Carmel River State Beach, with a scuba entry point. South lie the sea animals and whaling museum of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. • Sunset State Beach — The camp is set on a bluff overlooking Monterey Bay, making it a short traipse for a beautiful beach walk. The best weather is in late summer and fall. From Highway 1 near Watsonville, take the Riverside Drive exit toward the ocean to Beach Road. Dirve another 3.5 miles on Beach Road to the San Andreas Road exit. Turn right on San Andreas Road and drive about three miles to the beach on the left. • Santa Monica State Beach — Located just west of Downtown Los Angeles.

It is 3.5 miles long and has parks, picnic areas, playgrounds, restrooms, as well as manned lifeguard stations, the original Muscle Beach, bike rentals, concessions, a few hotels, a bike path, and wooden pathways for warm days. • La Jolla Shores Beach — A wide, mile-long beach with soft sand, clean water and gentle waves, La Jolla Shores is an ideal spot for families, sunbathers and beginner surfers, waves at this beach are usually the most gentle of all San Diego beaches. This beach has bathrooms and showers, fire pits and volleyball courts. • Coronado Beach — Coronado’s beaches glisten year around due to the mineral Mica in the sand, while gentle waves caress the shoreline. Whether you’re looking for a romantic island getaway with your partner, or a fun-filled family beach vacation, you’ll find the idyllic beach paradise in “The Crown City” and neighboring regions. From the shores of Silver Strand State Beach to the tip of the Coronado Municipal Beach, you’ll find plenty of wide open sand, gentle waves and gorgeous views.

Winter Family Fun and Adventure in California • Great Places for Family Fun and Adventure in Winter — As I write this, it's cold outside - but it's a little chill inside. Winter couldn't seem further away. My guess is that a lot of families are in "saving money" mode and deciding not to take that dream 4 weeks Vietnam vacation this winter. That means there could be even more competition for spots at the wonderfful ski resorts, casino, hotels that are just a short drive - and a whole world - away from Silicon Valley. You are welcome to check out the links below as our favourite places for family fun and adventure. • Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge — Watch hundreds of thousands ducks, greese, mallards, wigeon, shovelers, green-winged teal, and others wing to wing, as they land on a quiet pond from November through January. Listen to their vibrant calling and chuckling as they feed. Breath the crisp winter air and let the serenity of the marsh fill you with calm. This is one of the most important wintering areas in the entire Pacific Flyway, this complex of six refuges attracts ducks and greese by the millions.

Birds from the prairie potholes and as far away as Siberia leave subzero winter temperatures behind and fly thousands of miles to this balmy winter respite. • Ski the Alpine & skialpine.com — You'll want to check here for the latest highway conditions, maps, links to regional weather reports and more. Remember, weather in the mountains can be unpredictable, so check road and weather conditions before hitting the road and always carry chains! • North Star Resort — North Lake Tahoe's largest snowmaking system has officially started making snow! Northstar® Resort is scheduled to open Nov. 21 (conditions permitting) for skiing and riding! • Squaw Valley USA — Squaw Valley's Squaw Kids' Children's Center dedicates all 12,000 square feet of space to our guests between the ages of 3 and 12. Squaw Kids provides several full day and half day programs tailored to the age and ability of each child. The Worst Places in California and Nevada • Circus Circus Reno — One of the worst casino our kids picked for 3 days 2010 Christmas vacation was The Midway of Fun at Circus Circus.

It was expensive and overcrowd area of exciting carnival-style game that is sure to make children very happy with a bag of about 2-3 dozens of 25/50 cents stuff animals worth about $100. The room has a 17 inch 50 years old TV with a wired PS game type control allows you to sit in front of the TV to change the channel. The Circus Circus buffet restaurant was overcrowed, so we went to Boomtown Reno Casino , $22.99 all lobster you can eat buffet included a family picture taking with the sexiest lobster lady. On Saturday night, we could not found a parking space at Circus Circus, the parking lot choked with cars circled up and down and around likes New Year parade. If you want to know what we think the worst things to do in California at Christmas, Circus Circus in Reno at Christmas would topped our worst place lists in California and Nevada. Las Vegas is recommended. California Facts California Facts California Facts California is the most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W).

Area, 158,693 sq mi (411,015 sq km). Pop. (2000) 33,871,648, a 13.8% increase since the 1990 census. Capital, Sacramento. Motto, Eureka (I Have Found It). State bird, California valley quail. State flower, golden poppy. State tree, California redwood. Ranking third among the U.S. states in area, California has a diverse topography and climate. A series of low mountains known as the Coast Ranges extends along the 1,200-mi (1,930-km) coast. The region from Point Arena, N of San Francisco, to the southern part of the state is subject to tremors and sometimes to severe earthquakes caused by tectonic stress along the San Andreas Fault. The Coast Ranges receive heavy rainfall in the north, where the giant cathedrallike redwood forests prevail, but the climate of these mountains is considerably drier in S California, and S of the Golden Gate no major rivers reach the ocean.

Behind the coastal ranges in central California lies the great Central Valley , a long alluvial valley drained by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. In the southeast lie vast wastelands, notably the Mojave Desert, site of Joshua Tree National Park. Rising as an almost impenetrable granite barrier E of the Central Valley is the Sierra Nevada range, which includes Mt. Whitney , Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, and Yosemite National Park. The Cascade Range , the northern continuation of the Sierra Nevada, includes Lassen Volcanic National Park . Lying E of the S Sierra Nevada is Death Valley National Park. California has an enormously productive economy, which for a nation would be one of the ten largest in the world. Although agriculture is gradually yielding to industry as the core of the state's economy, California leads the nation in the production of fruits and vegetables, including carrots, lettuce, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, and almonds. The state's most valuable crops are grapes, cotton, flowers, and oranges; dairy products, however, contribute the single largest share of farm income, and California is again the national leader in this sector. The state also produces the major share of U.S. domestic wine.

California's farms are highly productive as a result of good soil, a long growing season, and the use of modern agricultural methods. Irrigation is critical, especially in the San Joaquin Valley and Imperial Valley. The gathering and packing of crops is done largely by seasonal migrant labor, primarily Mexicans. Fishing is another important industry. California continues to be a major U.S. center for motion-picture, television film, and related entertainment industries, especially in Hollywood and Burbank. Tourism also is an important source of income. Disneyland, Sea World, and other theme parks draw millions of visitors each year, as do San Francisco with its numerous attractions. California Facts - Facts and Figures about the State of California General California Facts Entered Union: Sept. 9, 1850 (31st state) Motto: Eureka (I have found it) State Colors: blue and gold State Song: I Love You, California Nickname: Golden State

Question: Known as the Golden State, what was the 31st state to join the Union on Sept. 9, 1850?
Answer: California